Santa Fe Excluded Homeless Services From Funding Requests
The Santa Fe City Council omitted homeless service projects from its list of priorities for state funding.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in City Hall
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Santa Fe officials have excluded homeless services from the city's state legislative funding priority list. The decision follows a previous council vote to block a local nonprofit from accessing state funds for a shelter.
Why it matters
The move complicates the city's strategy for addressing housing instability as existing shelters face impending relocation deadlines. It signals a shift in the city's legislative agenda regarding how public funds are directed toward essential social services.
The city plans to request over $159 million in state funding for various projects in the upcoming session. The proposed Resource and Opportunity Center, which remains unfunded by this priority list, intends to provide 125 overnight and day service beds.
The players
Santa Fe City Council
This is the primary legislative body responsible for governing the city of Santa Fe and determining its budgetary and funding priorities.
Agape House
This is a local emergency homeless shelter currently operating at 2801 Cerrillos Road that must relocate by early 2028.
Consuelo's Place
This is a homeless shelter facility currently situated on the city's midtown campus that the city is considering moving.
The details
The City Council Quality of Life Committee recently reviewed the legislative priorities resolution which leaves out funding for the Resource and Opportunity Center. Meanwhile, the Agape House emergency shelter at 2801 Cerrillos Road faces a mandatory move by January 2028, and the city is considering relocating Consuelo's Place from its current midtown campus.
Timeline
In July 2026, the City Council voted to block a local nonprofit from receiving state funds for a shelter.
In October 2026, the City Council scheduled a final vote on the legislative priorities resolution.
The deadline for the relocation of the Agape House shelter is January 2028.
Political Context
The current resolution marks a departure from previous funding patterns by omitting social service infrastructure from the city's primary state request. Opposition groups and housing advocates have consistently pushed for the inclusion of permanent shelter funding to address long-term regional needs.
The exclusion of shelter funding from the city's priority list may delay the development of the 125-bed Resource and Opportunity Center, directly impacting access to day and night services for the local homeless population. Residents may see continued pressure on existing emergency facilities like Agape House as the city's long-term plan for shelter replacement remains uncertain.
The takeaway
The city's decision to prioritize other projects over homeless services leaves a significant gap in the planned infrastructure for the region's vulnerable population. Stakeholders should monitor upcoming council votes to see if funding for shelter services is re-evaluated before the next legislative session.
What happens next
The City Council is expected to hold a final vote on the legislative priorities resolution in October 2026.
Further reading
For more information on local policy, visit the City Hall section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Santa Fe New Mexican.
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